Vehicle energy management system and method

Abstract

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle in an Electric Vehicle (EV) mode that utilizes electric-only power to propel the vehicle. The controlling step may be based on a selection of a travel range reservation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 controlling a vehicle in an Electric Vehicle (EV) mode that utilizes electric-only power to propel the vehicle, the controlling step based on a selection of a travel range reservation.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the travel range reservation is a distance in units of miles or kilometers. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising:
 manually selecting the EV mode once a desired portion of a commute has been reached by the vehicle; and   powering the vehicle in the EV mode in response to the manually selecting step.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the travel range reservation is part of an EV later mode strategy for controlling the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising calculating a corresponding battery state of charge that is necessary to meet the travel range reservation demand. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising automatically powering the vehicle in EV mode based on navigation information. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising:
 operating the vehicle in a charge depleting mode until a charge sustaining level is reached; and   operating the vehicle in a charge sustaining mode after the charge sustaining level has been reached.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , comprising operating the vehicle in a second charge depleting mode once a desired portion of a commute is reached that corresponds to the travel range reservation. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising communicating control signals to at least an electric machine and an engine to schedule operating modes of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising selecting the travel range reservation on a driver interface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle control method, comprising:
 selecting a distance of electric-only travel to be reserved for powering a vehicle during a later portion of a commute; and   controlling the vehicle along the later portion of the commute based on the distance of electric-only travel that is reserved during the step of selecting.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , comprising calculating a corresponding battery state of charge that is necessary to power the vehicle over the distance of electric-only travel. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step of controlling is performed in response to manually selecting an EV mode. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step of controlling is automatically performed in response to navigation information. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , comprising controlling the vehicle along another portion of the commute in a HEV mode. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle energy management system, comprising:
 a driver interface configured to select a travel range reservation; and   a control unit in communication with said driver interface and configured to control a vehicle using electric-only power based on said reserved travel range.   
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said vehicle is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said driver interface includes a travel range reservation selector. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said driver interface includes a mode selector having an EV mode button, an Automatic mode button, and a HEV mode button. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , comprising a navigation system in communication with said control unit.